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While the legal battles continue in the United States and recently on world forums such as the World Trade Organization, concerning the future of the Internet gambling industry, some in the community are simply having fun. In her report from the Casino Affiliate Conference in Amsterdam, Jenny Woo, one of the most familiar faces in the business, mainly for her looks that is, makes a point of her having a good time in defiance of American lawmakers who are concerned about the moral impact of online gambling on family values. Ms. Woo said, as we quote: Whatever! Woo and other famous girls who attend such events have teamed up and called themselves the Charlies Angels of Online Gambling. The girls contribute more than their body to science, i.e. pretty faces to the events. They actually, through their reports on their websites and blogs, offer advice and travel arrangements for industry people for future events, like the Casino Affiliate Program event in the Bahamas, which will take place in the second week of June. In the meanwhile, Jenny Woo, Rebecca Liggero and Jodi Klein help make such CAP events into Spring break parties and with their smiles deflect the attention from the legal developments and prove once again that online gambling is fun.
One of the biggest online poker rooms in the iPoker Network, Titan Poker has announced that it is sending no less than fifteen talented players to the Pokerface 2007 main event, due to take place in Las Vegas on May 13. The lucky team is made up of the sites most skilled players and hail from several countries around the world. The winner of the tournament will receive the title of the Worlds Best Poker Player and will win a $200,000 professional poker package. Total guaranteed prizes for the tournament amount to $300,000. Titan Poker regularly sends its top players to poker tournaments around the world, including the World Series of Poker Tournament and the Aussie Millions.
The leading software provider, CryptoLogic announced that its subsidiary company, WaterLogic is to develop a slot version of the popular Jewel Quest online game. Exclusive rights for the game were secured from the games developer, iWin Inc. Jewel Quest is one of the trendiest games on the internet, having been downloaded at least 40 million times since it first came out in 2004. Online players access the game from major portals such as MSN and Yahoo! CryptoLogic has adapted other popular online games in the past, including Cubis and Bejeweled. Jewel Quest will be its third and largest series to date. Players can expect to see exciting Jewel Quest slot games at most sites powered by CrytoLogic software by July 2007.
It all began in October. Last fall, US President George W. Bush signed a measure into law that changed not only the law concerning online gambling by Americans, it also changed the entire industry, business and millions of peoples pastime hobbies. By prohibiting American financial institutions (banks, credit card companies, services designed particularly for this cause) from processing payments to online gambling businesses abroad. The aftermath we already know of, having tried to figure out what it means to the individual gambler at the end of the day. Then in March a surprising ruling by the World Trade Organization seemed to reveal the light at the end of the tunnel. The issue of the American policy regarding the international online gambling market, i.e. shutting down competition from companies based overseas, was brought to a special WTO panel by the government of a Caribbean country, Antigua. The island has been the host of online gambling companies that based a large part of their operations serving American gamblers. They were directly hurt by the US policy. The WTO, by ruling in their favor, claiming the US ban was in violation of free trade agreements, accepted the Antiguan argument. The clause under which the argument was made is the same one that set up the WTO in the first place, in 1994, signifying its central importance when concerning such matters of free trade. The stick, which the Antiguan government holds is not of much value. If the US does not comply with the ruling, the little Caribbean country may impose trade restrictions of its own. A comparison of the two countries economies would immediately reveal how fruitless this may be an act. The ruling and the US response, however, are still potentially of monumental consequences. The precedent set by the WTO ruling may invite other countries, with larger economies, namely the European Union members, to follow suit. In that case the US stands losing the battle if it does not reverse the ruling or relax restrictions. The world thus awaits the US response to come sometime soon.
Curacao has always been at the forefront of the online gambling industry in terms of legislation, having been actively involved in jurisdiction and licensing as far back as 1993, when the industry was just starting out. Recently, the Curacao Internet Gaming Association announced that it would be updating its online gambling legislation, with a view to maintaining well-regulated internet gambling within the international community. As part of its move to remain ahead in international legislation, Curacao applied to the United Kingdom to be accepted as a legal internet gaming jurisdiction, thereby acquiring reciprocal rights. If granted, companies licensed in Curacao could enjoy a chunk of the burgeoning e-gaming market in the U.K, thanks to reforms in that countrys legal system. Curacao employs hundreds of workers in its gambling industry and enjoys significant financial benefits.
Statistics recently revealed that around 50% of internet gamblers were women, a number that took even the online gambling world by surprise. Gambling has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. Since the first images of rough necked poker players in sleazy bars flickered onto movie screens, we have always considered gambling to be a mans world. However, the numbers in recent surveys show otherwise. It is even predicted that more women will play at online gambling sites in the future than men. What is it that draws women to gamble online? For one, they prefer the anonymity of the pastime. Lets face it its much easier for a woman to gamble alone in the comfort of her own home than to enter a casino by herself in Vegas, without the unwelcome attention of drunken men. Online gambling also allows women to fit their game sessions into their daily routines, without the need to physically drive down to a casino. In a world of high-speed internet connection, women can squeeze their online gambling fun into their busy worlds of motherhood, careers and other pastimes within seconds. Some people warn that women tend to turn to online gambling as a means of escape, while men take on this pastime for the fun and challenge of it. These same people show that for this reason, women are more prone to become addicted to online gambling. However, other experts tend to differ with this opinion and show that women all over the world are making educated decisions about their gambling lifestyles, based on research, trial and error.
A merge between Yahoo! UK and St Minver LTD. Resulted in the launch of Yahoo! Online Poker in early May 2007. The merge came as result of both high demands for better quality online gambling service providers for Europeans and significant growth in popularity of online Poker in Europe and the UK. The newly formed partnership offers a browser-based, flash-only and no-download platform design. Yahoo also offers in this site some fun mode games that do not ask for any financial investment aiming to attract thousands of gambling fans at peak times. The no download version of the games is another pleasant feature as the games will involve little to no effort from the player who wish to join in the many games from more traditional casino games to puzzles, board games and even Sudoko. The collaboration will mark Yahoo! as the worlds first ISP to open a real money online poker room. Operations are likely to take place in Sweden, where software provider, Boss Media AB is located. Yahoos emphasis is directed towards simplicity and they have therefore decided on a user-friendly format for their site, which will be further emphasized by video tutorials and interactive guides provided by Endemol Gaming. The addition of Yahoo! UK to the partner-based network of St Minver is expected to attract both yahoo customers and regular online gamers alike. While the merge has caused St Minver Poker Network to become one of Europes largest network operators, it is anticipated that due to its respected brand name and access to large amounts of potential players, Yahoo! Online Poker rooms will become a leading online gaming source.
For many years now, players who are searching for online gambling sites that are fair and monitored have regularly turned to the watchdog group, eCOGRA, for advice. This group whose acronym stands for eCommerce and Online Gambling Regulation Assurance is responsible for bringing a certain standard to the online gambling industry, thanks to its awards given to online casinos that adhere to its strict standards. Gamblers know that a site that carries the eCOGRA Play it Safe seal can generally be counted on to provide fair play, excellent customer service, prompt dispute settlement and good payout services. eCOGRA recently took its online testing one step further, with the introduction of its gold standard of fairness to online casinos. The group has introduced what is known as a TGTR, or Total Gaming Transaction Review, that will monitor and analyze online casino games. The testing will be done by a team of qualified auditors and will be available in 14 languages, including Chinese and Japanese. These reviews will cover many facets of the gambling site, including poker card shuffling reviews on a monthly basis, Random Number Generator reports twice a year for popular games such as blackjack, video poker and roulette, as well as payout percentage reports for all games offered at the sites under review. It is hoped that this new service will ensure a safer gaming environment for the average gambler, as well as prompt online casinos to aim even higher to provide their clients with good standards and services.
The UK Gambling Commission was established in October 2005, and replaced the Gaming Board for Great Britain as regulator of casinos, lotteries, bingo, and gaming machines. Amongst other things, it also took on board responsibility for the regulation of betting and remote gambling, as well as protecting children and vulnerable people. In accordance with provisions being made by the Gambling Act 2005, the Commission is set to open and be fully operational by September 2007. The strict limitations it intends to impose, according to Commission Chairman Peter Dean, are designed to secure the acts' three main objectives; to keep crime out of gambling, to make sure it is fair and open, and to protect children and vulnerable people. With the date looming ever closer, it is time for both online and offline gamblers to acquaint themselves with the changes that will take affect within the next three months. The British gambling community has already experienced a taste of the new enforcements, having to apply for licenses under the new Commission since January 2nd this year. The Commissions published codes of practice have been submitted for consultation, and responses are due June 2nd. This is the first time that both the offline and online gambling industries will fall under the regulatory enforcement of a single body. Many of its new rules are designed to combat problem gambling, to make sure that standards of social responsibility amongst site operators will be the highest in the world, said Dean. The GC is taking what has until now been considered harsh steps in order to ensure that gambling is handled in a socially responsible manner. All gambling establishments, whether an arcade, slot parlor, local betting shop, bingo hall or casino, must satisfy various requirements by means of inspection (both surprise and pre-scheduled), in which assessors might even disguise themselves as customers. Those who do not meet the newly set standards will have their license revoked or receive heavy fines. Additionally, employees such as dealers will be required to obtain official licenses in order to continue working in such a facility. One of the most influential decisions of the new Commission is the strict limitations that will be imposed on bookmakers and sports betting in general. In an aim to improve the reliability of sports betting, it has been considering whether it should require the gambling industry to only offer certain categories of betting opportunities. This will mean that sports bets that are not dependent upon the actual results of a game, such as which player will be first to receive a yellow card, will be banned by the new campaign. The Commission believes that a wave of cheating has resulted since this kind of betting entered the industry. However, the industry itself strongly denies this assertion, and is in fierce opposition to the new proposal. The GC will also release an official results service similar to that of horse racing, as a means of encouraging this new level of fairness. Although the scheme is not yet approved, it is one of many designed to achieve high quality sports betting conditions. Other aspects of the Commission's license conditions and codes of practice include: - Online and offline casinos and bingo operators to take on specific measures that will regulate continuous and repetitive game play. Such measures are, for example, the encouragement of taking breaks from game play, and making customers aware of the time and money they have spent in the casino. The speed of gaming machines will also be slowed down, as well as the banning of alcohol as a means of encouraging game play. - In land-based casinos, measures must be taken to prevent the entry of underage customers. Age checks are allowed to be carried out on anyone appearing to be below the age minimum, and trained supervisors must be employed in order to deter them from the casino site. In online casinos, random credit card checks and software filtering programs must be employed as a way to block minors from entering and using the casino programs. - In cases where a player shows signs of problem gambling, land-based and online casino operators will be required to exclude them from game play. Also, players who feel they have a problem must be able to exclude themselves. - All gambling operators must publish their policies and procedures for promoting socially responsible gambling. Topics that should be covered in these publications include the risks of problem gambling, treatment of problem gamblers, and its contribution to research. - Information about these issues and available help to problem gamblers should be displayed or made accessible on the home page or login area of any website. - And finally, house edge, odds, game rules and payout percentage rates must all be clearly displayed on the sites, and its operators are required to publicize a complaints procedure that includes an external and independent element. According to the official website, the Commission is working closely with betting industry organization to ensure the right level of license controls. Whilst the new regulations and restrictions are considered by the community to be somewhat harsher than required, they are expected to raise the bar in sports betting and general gambling in the UK to world class status. With over 8,000 licensed betting premises in Great Britain, and over 7 million customers (both local and foreign) a year, these new codes of practice are something the community should quickly get used to. For gambling operators and book keepers, they will probably be more distracting than helpful. To players, however, this is expected to bring about high standard, better security levels, protection for children and minors, and an improved experience altogether.
Here's a site that will make you turn your head around. A site that will set excitement levels high. This, regardless of the games and jackpots it offers, but merely for its name and some other big-time features on it. Playboy UK launched its online casino in April 2007 to serve British and Canadian gamblers with its top of the line product. Is this another one of Hugh Hefner's brilliant business ideas that revolve around Bunnies? Soon we will start hearing of parties thrown by the adult entertainment mogul and businessman, this time not as exclusive, but rather open for whoever wants to join. Games at the gambling site use Cryptologic software, one of the most realistic in graphics and audio, which assures Playboy Bunnies look their finest on the computer screen. Specially designed games, such as the slots machines with flashing models satisfy what gamblers look for at a gambling site fun games, big payouts and good looking women. Additionally, the gambling site is a member of progressive slots system, which has paid gamblers sums of millions in the past. Time will tell whether the site's visitors prefer taking in a million dollar jackpot or a visit to the Playboy Mansion.
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